Black-out ventilator



Nov. 7, 1944. w. w. CARVER BLACK-OUT VENTILATOR Filed March 30, 1943 11.22.2255 zifiili ,agli

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. l7', 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLACK-OUT VENTILATOR Walter W. Carver, Millburn, N. J. e Application March so, 1943, serial No. 481,169

(C1. sisail 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for insertion into an opening such as the port-hole of a ship and when in place it serves to prevent the passage' of light as in the precautions taken b shipping in war times.

The invention also relates to a black-out device 'which serves as a ventilator, allowing a free passage of air and is capable of adjustment for controlling the direction of ow of air through the ventilator. A further object of the invention is to control the amount of air allowed to pass through the ventilator, this being done'by means of a damper which may also include a screen which is over the air passage when the damper is open or partly open. I

The device is designed to be made at a reason- Vable `cost and is simple in order to make its manipulationV easy.

yThe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central horizontal secton of a ventilator made according to my invention. Figurev 2 is a face viewof the device shown in Figure l with the wind scoop partly broken away to disclose the damper and screen.

` In the drawing the part IU represents a ships plates and Il is the`bolt used to fasten the devicein place although other means of fastening the'device in place may be used, or the device maybe part of the permanent construction of the ship. It is preferably made, however, as a portable ventilator easily attached in the usual formof port-hole by means such as the bolts Il which are the usual and standard form of fastening. l

The device comprises a casing I2 fitting the port-hole. The casing comprises two duplicate rings placed face-to-face and having exterior flanges I3 which are welded together and form a' stiifening flange and also a stop for engaging the port light frame I 4. The `casing has inwardly turned anges I5 which serve as means for conlining a unit inside the casing. The unit `may be rotatable inside the casing or xed therein, as will be described hereinafter.

The unit comprises a cylindrical ishell, two semi-circular discs forming ythe end-.walls inclined deflect'or plates, and wind scoops.`

The shell consists of a sheet metal circular` band I6 tting into the casing I2 and held against lateral movement by the angesl. The shell has two end Walls formed by the outer plates II welded to the flanges I6a of the band I6. The outside plates I'I are arranged on opposite sides of the center, are each substantially slightly larger than a half-circle and thus extend beyond the center line of theshell leaving the spaces I8 in each side wall of the unit and diagonally opposite. These passages on opposite sides of the center are substantially half the area of each end wall with a straight edge across the center or approximately so and a rounded edge near the` edge of the shell. e

The inside of the unitjis provided with deector plates that are inclined in a mannerto conduct air diagonally through the shell from one opening I8 to the other. The deflector plates I9 are on opposite sides of the center of the shell and each extends from the straight edge `of one opening in an end wall to the outer curved edge of the'opening inthe opposite wall. The edges ofv the inclined deilector plates may be provided with flanges 20 at the edges, which edges are cutto a Vshape to fit the curved wall of the shell I6. The llanges 2i) are welded to the shell and form a rm and light-proof joint between the deflector plates and the shell.

IfV desired a central deflector plate 2| is placed equidistant from the end deector plates I9 and has the flanges 22 for welding itpto the shell I6. The abutting edges of the central plate are curved to t the inside 'of the shell and the flanges form light-proof jointswith the shell.

The unit is provided with a wind scoop and if desired both Vfaces may have such scoop. The scoops 23 are quatri-spherical, conforming on one edge tothe shape of the opening and having flanges 24 welded to the flanges Ita of the shell I6. The scoops have their open ends 25 extended beyond the center of the shell and thus aid in lassuring that novlight passes through the device. i i

It will be evident that when the device is inserted in a port-hole, the slotted lugs 26 on the casing receiving the bolts II in the usual manner'employed on shipboard, the outside `scoop will receive air from Athe direction of arrow a. The air passes into the shell from the scoop and is directed by the deflector plates across the shell and'to the other air passage and then out into the inside of the ship. The scoop on the inside face deflects the air vand also aids in insuring that light is not permitted to pass through the device. The surfaces ofthe shell fand the deector plates where they are apt to receive light are treated to make them non-reflectingor light absorbent. This is usually done by giving them a dull black coating.

It will be obvious that if the device is used with the current of air passing in the direction opposite to arrow a the air will be drawn out of the inside of the ship and thus exhausted.

If the current of air is in a direction opposite to the arrow a either through a change of Wind direction when at anchor or due to the direction of movement of the ship the device is reversed by loosening the fastenings Il, turning the device a half revolution and again fastening it in place. This places the outside scoop in position for receiving air as before.

Inlieuof'this tlfleshell` I 6 may'beniaderso that] it may rotate in the casing I2, andl as'it carries' the defiector plates and the scoops it may be turned a half-turn to suit the circumstances. For more stability, however, the shell IfiY isusually' welded to the casing I2 and the whole device turned in case it is necessary.

The device may be provided with a damper and screen on its inner wall. The damper is a circular disc 21 with a semi-circular cut-out por tion to form theopening 28 of the same general shape and dimensions of the airy passages I8. The disc is provided with a screen 29 over the opening 28. The disc is pivot'ed at its center on the bolt or pin 30 and is rotatable. The handle 3I illustrates one means for turning the damper. When the air isto be shut off the damper is turned' to place the solid part over the opening I8- on the inner wall' of the shell, otherwise the disc can be turned to uncover the opening to any desired extent or it can be fully uncovered. The screen 29 serves to cover the opening. l'when the disc or damper is turned to open part or all of the opening and serves to keep out insects.

It will be observed fromthe drawing that. the open ends of the scoops overlap or extend beyond the center of the device from opposite sides and that the delector plates overlap, these arrangements insuring the black-out eiectiveness of the device.

The capacity of the ventilator is *largev becausey most ofthe area of the inside of the device is available for the passage of. air and the air is not impeded by any sharp changes of direction. The inclined, substantially parallel deflectors contribute to the maximum capacity for air..

The deflector plates are arranged diagonally across the shell from onev air opening to the other, these air passages being arranged on opposite sides of the center. This contributes to the air capacity but also lends stiffness and'. bracing.. The latter quality is valuable inmaintaining the device under the stress. of normal travel. at sea but also under excess strains due to explosive blast from f opening on the opposite side of the plane, each` opening being substantially half'the area of the wall, inclined deector plates forming air passages from one opening to the other openingand` wind scoops of quadri-spherical form over each opening and facing in opposite directions.

2. A black-out ventilator comprising a hollow casing of cylindrical form having end walls, one of saidwalls having a semi-circular opening on one side of the central plane passing through the end walls, and the other wall having a similar opening on the opposite side of the plane, each opening being substantially half the area of the wall, inclined deiiector plates forming air passages from one opening to the other opening, wind scoops of quadri-spherical form over each opening and facing in opposite directions, the inner. endsV of; the scoops extendingI beyond the center of the casing.

3. A black-out ventilator comprising a hollow casing of cylindrical form having end walls, one off saidwalls having a semi-circular opening on one side of the central plane passing through the end walls, and the other wall having a similar opening on. the opposite side of the plane, each opening being substantially half the area of the w-all, inclined deiiector plates forming air passages from one opening to the other opening, wind scoops. of quadri-spherical form over each opening. and facing in opposite directions, a disc rotatably secured to o-ne of the walls to form a damper and having a screened opening to cover the air passage when the damper is open.

4.. A black-out ventilator comprising a hollow cylindrical casing, inner and outer walls on the casing, one of said walls having a semi-circular opening on one side of the central plane passing ing from the rounded edge of the opening in one wall' to the straight edge of the opening in the other wall, wind scoops 'of quadri-spherical form onthe outside ofthe walls and over the openings and with their open ends extending beyond the. center of the casing.

5`..A black-out Ventilator comprising a cylindrical, casing` including avshell having flat end walls, onel of said walls having a semi-circular opening on oneside of the central plane passing through the end walls, and the other wall having a similar opening on the opposite side of the plane, each opening having substantially half the area of. the wall, deector plates arranged diagonally to conducty air from one opening to the other opening, a central inclined deector plate between the iirst mentioned plates, and wind scoops over the openings. and arranged with their open. ends beyond the center of the casing, the scoops facing in opposite directions.

6L A black-out ventilator comprising a cylindrical casing including a shell having iiat end Walls,v one of said walls having a semi-circular opening on one side of the central plane passing through the end. walls, and the other wall having a similar opening on the opposite side of the plane, each opening being substantially half the area of the wall, deflector plates arranged diagonally to conducty air froml one opening to the other opening, a centrally disposed inclined de- -v ii'ector plate betweenl the rst-rnentioned plates,

wind scoops over the openings and arranged with their open ends beyond the center of the casing, and a damper rotatable on the inner end Wall of the casing, the damper having a screened opening of a size toV cover the opening in the inner wall when the damper is open.

WALTER W. CARVER. 

